Burns Bridge 2nd Half Construction Moves Forward

The view from Worcester towards Shrewsbury shows 36-inch pipe piles being driven at pier #3, approximately at the center of Lake Quinsigamond.

Construction is now underway to build the second half of the new Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge in Worcester-Shrewsbury.

Earlier this year, traffic shifted to the first half of the new Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge, four months ahead of schedule. All traffic is riding on the new bridge’s concrete deck. A permanent asphalt surface will be installed prior to project completion.

When complete, the new Kenneth F. Burns Bridge will offer three lanes in both directions and dedicated turning lanes, along with improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

Work over the next several weeks will include the following:

Completion of driving H-piles at the east abutment, followed by construction of the abutment footing.
Completion of pile installation at piers three and four.
Installation of drainage under the eastbound bridge deck.
Completion of the dredging operation at Ramshorn Island.
Completion of the landscaping and retaining walls at the Lincoln Park Towers parking lot.
Roadway median construction on Belmont Street (Route 9 west of the bridge).
Continued planting of trees and shrubs project wide.

The Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge is one of the Accelerated Bridge Program projects in the eight-year, $3 billion effort to reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges in Massachusetts. For more information, please visit the project website.